Vapor condensing and recovery device



Dec. 10, 1929. I A. E. HESSE VAPOR 'GONDENSING AND RECOVERY DEVICE Filed Jan. 28. 1928 gwuwn 'toz 227 77 1 27am.

Patented Dec. 10, 1929 ARTHUR E. HESSE, OFST. EAUL, MINNESOTA VAPOR CONDENSING AND RECOVERY DEVICE- Application flied January as; 1928. m1 at. 250,106.

The present invention relates to a vapor condensing and recovery devicefor water cooled motors.

During cold weather, in order to prevent freezing of the water in automobile water cooling systems, it is common practice to add alcohol to the water in the radiator to lower the freezing point thereot. Since alcohol vaporizes at a lower temperature than water an amount of alcohol is frequently lost through vaporization by passing downwardly through the overflow pipe from the radiator to raise the freezing point of the resulting liquid in the cooling system-and permit a freezing of the liquid therein. V arious types of condensers have been employed to condense and return this vapor to the cooling system, but most of such condensers which are effective, are socomplicated as to make their cost prohibitive.

An object of the present invention is to make a simple and eficient vapor condensing device for water cooling systems.

A mechanism for accomplishing this object is disclosed in the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l, is a view in side elevation partly in section of the device mounted at the side of an automobile motor; and p I Figure 2, is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 all the parts except the inlet pipe being in elevation.

Referring to the drawings in detail, an automobile radiator .A is shown asprovided with the customary overflow pipe 1, to the lower end of which is connected a rubber tube 2. The other end of the rubber tube is connected to a metal tube 3 which extends downwardly into the interior of a metal con- 4 tainer 4, which metal container is mounted as by means of brackets 5 and 6 to a convenient portion of the automobile, such as the motor block 7. The tube 3 extends downwardly to within a short distance of the bottom of the metal container 4, and beneath the lower end of the tube 3 is provided a cup-shaped receptacle 8 of smaller diameter than the container 1. A mesh screen 9 may be provided across I i the upper end of the receptacle 8 to reduce to splashing of liquid contained therein and also to prevent vibration of the lower end of the tube 3. An overflow pipe 10 is mounted within the container, the upper end being open, and near the upper end of the container, the lower end also being open and extending 5 through the bottom of the container. The container is preferably placed in. the air stream from the fan 11 so as to be kept as cool as possible.

In operation the vapor from the radiator 0 A is carried by means of the pipes 1 and 8 and the rubber tube 2 to the interior of the container 4, where it is discharged into the small receptacle 8. The vapor condenses either in its passage from the radiator to the container, or, after entering the container, and collects within the receptacle 8 and with in the container 4 around the receptacle. As

soon as a quantity of liquid is condensed in the receptacle 8, sufiicient to cover the lower.

end of the tube 3, the elficiency of the device is greatly increased, since the vapor passing through the liquid contained in the receptacle 8 is cooled thereby, and this greatly accelerates the condensation. Splashing of the liquid from the container is retarded by the mesh screen 9 across the upper endvthereof. When the motor is stopped, the water in the cooling system cools off and the vapor above the radiator as at 12 is also cooled, and condensed. This creates a partial vacuum at 12, which sucks the water from the receptacle 8 through the pipes 3 and 1 and the rubber tube 2, back into the radiator. After the device has been in operation long 5 enough to condense enough liquid to fill the receptacle 8, the ipes 1 and 3 and the tube 2 will never be a solutely devoid of liquid, sinceit is impossible for the suction within the radiator to draw all the water out of the system, owing to the long, vertical .rise through the overflow pipe 1. There is thus left in the U-shaped lower portion of the overflow pipe 1 and thetube 2 a quantity of liquid, which, upon the starting 0 the motor and the heating and expanding of the air at 12 in the radiator, is forced into the recepta cle 8 to provide a cooling medium for the vapor discharged from the tube 3 into the contamer e. Should a quantity of liquid more 2 '7 i fnnema than sufiicient to fill the receptacle 8 be presexit, this liquid will, of course, collect in the bottom of the container around the receptac1e8, and, when there is suflicient liquid in 5 the container about the receptacle to bring the surface of the liquid near the u per edge of the receptacle 8 the vibration o the motor will 'be suflicient to splash a portion of this liquid over into the receptacle upon 10 the starting of the motor so as to provide an additional sulppliy of li uid for the initial operation of t e evi'ce. n case of boiling of the liquid in the radiator, the steam and liquid from the radiator is conducted into the container 4 and the larger portion of the vapor is condensed and remains in the container. However, should the boiling be so violent as to overtax the capacity of the container, any excess is free ,to passout through the overflow pipe 10. After such a boiling of the water in the radiator, a comparativel large amount of 1i uid is retained within t e container 4 and t is is gradually returned to the radiator A throu h successive heatin and .coolings of the air above the water in the radiator in successive operations of the motor. v

I claim: 1. A vapor condensing device of the character described, comprising a container, means connecting the container with the cooling system of an internal combustion motor, said means" opening into said container near the lower end thereof, a receptacle positioned beneath the lower end of said means, said receptaclebeing of smaller diameter than said container, and overflow means associated with the container and opening into the container near the upper end thereof.

2. A vapor condensing device of the character described, coin using a container, a receptacle of smaller iameter than said container mounted interiorly thereof, a tube connecting the interior of the container to the coolin system of an internal combustion motor an opening intosaid receptacle near the bottom thereof, and an overflow outlet near the upper end of said container. In testimony whereof I aflix my si ature.

. ARTHUR E. SSE. 

